Museum of Brisbane

Located on the top floor of the heritage listed Brisbane City Hall at King George Square, is the modern and sleek Museum of Brisbane which provides a window into the soul of Brisbane and the places and people who’ve formed our cultural landscape.

This small museum is full of vibrant, ever-changing exhibitions which each have a story to tell plus there’s also plenty to keep the mini museum goers entertained on your visit.

A Purpose-built Gallery and Vibrant Exhibitions

The Museum of Brisbane was opened in 2003 to replace the existing Brisbane City Gallery, however it had to temporarily move to Ann Street during the three year renovation of City Hall which commenced in 2010.

It reopened in April 2013 in its flashy, new location on the top level offering up clear views of the building’s most recognisable features – the copper dome roof of the auditorium and the historic clock tower. Since reopening, the museum has welcomed well over one million visitors into the purpose-built gallery where tourists and locals are sure to bring home a renewed appreciation of the river city.

This award-winning space is constantly changing with seasonal exhibitions from local emerging and established artists who’ve contributed to the museum’s collection holdings of over 9,000 unique pieces. These can include paintings of gorgeous Brisbane landmarks and colourful indigenous artwork to thought provoking multimedia presentations and humorous ceramic sculptures.

Although the political and cultural references are likely to be lost on the kids, the eclectic mix of items and creativity on display will hopefully spark their little imaginations and engage the senses.

Museum of Brisbane for Kids

The Museum of Brisbane was created with the whole family in mind right down to the smallest of budding artists with the MoB Kids program and BYO Baby tours.

MoB Kids offers a range of free and low cost activities during the school holidays for kids to flex their artistic muscle and let those creative juices flow. These activities are often relevant to the season and current exhibitions which aims to provide a more immersive experience for young visitors.

Don’t worry if your visit doesn’t coincide with the holidays, as the daily Little Artist’s Eye Spy game is also a fantastic way to get the kids involved. These free activity sheets can be found at the reception desk and are suitable for all ages – just remember to ask the friendly staff upon your arrival.

If you’ve got a bub in tow, then you’ll want to time your visit with the BYO Baby tour which runs every Tuesday from 10:30am – 11:00am. This baby friendly tour allows for adults and carers to enjoy the museum at a leisurely pace with plenty of time for feeding, cuddling (and dare we say tantrum) breaks as required. Visit the website to book your tickets as this popular tour does book out in advance.

Accessibility at Museum of Brisbane

The museum is both wheelchair and pram friendly with lift access to the upper floors and wide, open corridors throughout the space.

Accessible toilets are located on the museum floor and are equipped with baby change facilities. There is free, locker storage for bulky items like backpacks and jackets and you can also safely leave your pram at reception if it is not required during your visit.

Other Kid Friendly Attractions in Brisbane City

While visiting the Museum of Brisbane and the Brisbane City Hall, you can join in on a fantastic, guided hall tour or take a trip up the clock tower and be rewarded with some great views of the bustling city below.

Within walking distance, you’ll also find the spectacular Roma Street Parklands which make a perfect picnic backdrop and boasts a couple of very cool, nature inspired playgrounds.

If outdoor fun is on your Brisbane to do list then add South Bank and Kangaroo Point Cliffs to your must visit destinations while a trip to the kid friendly Queensland Museum and GOMA would just about complete your cultural tour of the city.

What We Thought of the Museum of Brisbane

This contemporary museum is a beautifully designed space which does a wonderful job of bringing the story of Brisbane to life. Although its displays are most definitely aimed at an adult audience, there is a few child friendly activities, especially during school holidays, which makes this a welcoming environment for the whole family to enjoy.

Overall it’s a fun, free, interesting and brief pit stop while in Brisbane city that will most likely interest mum, dad, grandparents and the bigger Brisbane Kids.

Award-winning museum in Brisbane

The Museum of Brisbane is highly regarded for its innovation and contemporary international practice and has won a number of major awards during its brief history. The Museum has twice been awarded the top honour at the prestigious Queensland Museum and Gallery Achievement Awards, as well as major National Trust of Queensland Awards.